Mudfish
📖 Overview
Facultative air-breathing ; Very common in inundated areas. Bury themselves in the mud when the pools are drying up. Feed mainly on fish and mollusks; also crustaceans, diatoms, detritus and bottom organisms . Omnivorous and reproduction takes place in the rainy saison . Max. size for West Africa and Lower Guinea: 650mm TL .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 60 - 82; Anal soft rays: 42 - 61. Diagnosis: 16-50 gill rakers on first gill arch (much more reduced compared to Clarias gariepinus) , subject to geographical variations . Head oval-shaped to rectangular in dorsal outline; snout broadly rounded; eyes rather lateral in position and, together with relatively broad head, make for a relatively large interorbital distance; number of gill rakers on first branchial arch subject to much variation, 16-40, rarely exceeding 40; dorsal fin base situated close to occipital process; dorsal fin always terminates before caudal fin base, distance between both small; anal fin originates closer to caudal fin base than to tip of snout, nearly reaching caudal fin but never confluent; pelvic fin base slightly closer to tip of snout than to caudal fin base, reaching base of first anal fin rays; pectoral fin extend from operculum to base of first dorsal fin rays . Pectoral spine slightly curved and robust , serrated only on its outer side , number of serrations increases with increasing standard length . Lateral line appears as a small, white line running from posterior end of head to middle of caudal fin base . Openings of secondary sensory canals (flank neuromasts) clearly marked, showing a regular pattern . : elongated; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Mudfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Breeding season varies among localities, apparently timed to the rainy season.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous ; depth range 1 - ? m . Tropical; 32°N - 5°N
🌿 Ecology
fish and mollusks; also crustaceans, diatoms, detritus and bottom organisms (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Catfish · Eel Catfish · Mudfish |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Abu Shanab · Garmut · Hoot · Karmout Zaflout · Mangani · Zaflout |
| 🌍CES | keříčkovec úhořovitý |
| 🌍EWE | Adewuyie |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Niilinankeriasmonni · Niilinkonnamonni |
| 🇫🇷French | Silure |
| 🌍GLE | Denor |
| 🌍HAU | Hana Noma · Kuluni · Tarwada · Tarwaɗa |
| 🌍IBO | Arira |
| 🌍KAU | Kemudu |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Dlugowas Senegalski · długowąs senegalski |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Кармут |
| 🌍WOL | Yess |
| 🌍YOR | Aro |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 鰻鬍鯰 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarias anguillaris nigeriensis | Pellegrin | 1923 | Heterotypic |
| Clarias budgetti | Boulenger | 1900 | Synonym |
| Clarias hasselquistii | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Clarias parvimanus | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Clarias senegalensis | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Macropteronotus charmuth | Lacepède | 1803 | Synonym |
| Silurus anguillaris | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 205 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Mudfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.